Dispenser for nested or serially arranged articles



w. R. JusTus 2,443,862

DISPENSER FOR NESTED OR SERIALLY ARRANGED ARTICLES June 22, 1948.

Filed April 12, 1947 FIG. 4

INVENTOR S U T S U V R. vM M L L W ATTORNEYS Patented June 22, 1948 OFFICE DISPENSER FOR NESTED OR SERIALLY ARRANGED ARTICLES William R. Justus, Chicago, Ill.

Application April 12, 1947, Serial No. 741,132

9 Claims.

This invention relates to dispensers of articles, and particularly to dispensers arranged to contain a. series or a column of articles, and having delivery means for releasing such articles one at a time.

The main objects of this invention are to provide an improved dispenser for releasing articles one at a time from a series or a column of nested articles contained within the dispenser; to provlde such a device in which a column of articles, norm-ally urged toward the delivery end of the device, is automatically held against forward movement upon actuation of means for releasing the first article of the column; to provide an improved dispenser for hollow nested articles; to provide such a device adapted to dispense nested finger tip shields one at a time directly onto the end of the users finger; to provide such a device anranged .to automatically withhold .the remainder of a series of nested articles while the first is released; and to provide such a device that is of simple construction, compact and easy to operate.

1A specific embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a dispenser for finger tip shields, embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective View of a finger tip shield such as may be dispensed from the improved device.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the dispenser as taken on line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the same as taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3 and Fig. 5 an end view of the dispenser showing its delivery end.

In the form shown inthe drawings, the improved device is particularly designed for dispensing relatively small nested articles, such as cap-like finger tip shields, and comprises a hollow, tubular body I, closed at its rear end 2 and having an opening 3 at its forward end, through which the nested articles are supplied to the dispenser and from which the articles may be individually removed. The interior section of the tubular body I is preferably shaped to conform to the shape of the column 4 of nested articles and is preferably of a sizewhich will permit the articles to be held freely but without turning. The column of stacked or nested articles is inserted into the dispenser through the end opening 3 and is retained within the dispenser by means of a laterally slidable cap or gate member 5, disposed over the open end of the dispenser body.

As shown in Fig. 2, the finger tip shield, for

2 which the present embodiment of this invention is designed, comprises a hollow shell 6, having generally the shape of a quarter section of a hollow sphere, adapted to fit on and enclose the ball end of the users finger. One end 1, of the shell 6, through which the finger is inserted in use of the shield, is provided at its sides with a laterally projecting bead 8, shaped .to provide a forwardly facing shoulder 8.l, spaced from the edge of the opening I. The top opening of the shell 6 is pro-' vided with a marginal flange 9 which extends laterally inward from the top opening edges.

As will be readily understood, the shields, or hollow shell 6, can be readily nested, one within the other, and the column of such articles held by the dispenser comprises a plurality of the articles so nested. The nested articles are, however, separated or spaced apart slightly, as indicated in Fig. 4, by engagement of the shoulder 8.1 of one article with the edge of the end opening 1 of the next rearward article. The purpose of such spacing will be hereafter explained.

As shown, the gate member 5 is a cap-like element which fits over the open end 3 of the dispenser body and this cap-like element includes a side or shank portion l0 which partially houses the body I and extends longitudinally along its upper surface to the rear end where the shank or side portion terminates in an overhanging end member I I which partly overlaps the closed end 2 of the dispenser. The lower edge of the overhanging member II is formed to provide a hook or dog [2 which engages a lug l3 projecting from the end 2 of the dispenser body. It is by this means that the shank ll! of the cap member 5 is retained on the dispenser.

The gate or cap member 5 is shaped to fit the sides of the dispenser body quite closely, but is of a greater vertical length than the open end 3 of the body whereby the cap member may be shifted later-ally across the open end. The cap portion 5 is also provided with an end opening [4 of at least the same size as the open end 3 of the dispenser body. However, the opening I4 is located eccentri-cally in the cap portion 5 so that the lower margin l5 of the opening l4 normally extends partially across the open end 3 of the dispenser gate or cap member.

In order to keep the nested articles constantly urged toward the delivery end of the dispenser,

a shaped follower block 20 is provided within the dispenser body which block is normally urged toe ward the delivery end of the dispenser by means of a helical spring 2!, disposed'between the"fl-- lower block 26 and the closed end of the dispenser and held in position by means of bosses 22 and 23 formed on the inner end of the follower block andv the end 2 of the dispenser respectively. "The follower block 29' is preferably shaped to fit the end contour of the shield 6 in order to provide a uniform forward movement'of the stack or column of shields and to avoid crushing or distortln'g the endmost shield.

since the device is'int'e'nded to dispense the articles'loneat a time, and 'su'charticles are released fer removal from the dispenser by alinement of thecap opening [4 with the end opening 3 of the dispenser body; the device is alsoarranged toautornatically block forward movement of the column of articles, under'theinfluence' of the spring 21' and the follower block 20 during the period that the outlet openings are alined. This is accomplished by. interl'ockQmeans which physically engages the column of articles and holds back all but the first'article which is'to'be removed. In the form hown, the interlock means corn" prises a pair of pinsz i; fixed to and projecting laterally inward the forward end. of the shank. or. side "portion It), which pins extend through suitable apertures 25in the upper wall of "the" tubular body' l so as to be engageable with the. eoliimn ef articles, preferablybetween the first assemnaa ticl s of the series. Normally the pinsZQL arfretracted from the body I, being so held by thefshank l9 which isurged laterally away from thedispensrbody by the spring l6.

andfthe coluniln'or series of articles is free to move against the margin refer the cap opening. In the. particularfernbodirnent of the" invention h rems ewn," the neste'dlfarticles served by the dispenser "are spaced from each. other, as-shown in Fig'flhby enssgementi r the edge bt the end. opening I of. one article 'with 'th'esho'ulder 810i articleswhe'n" the column is in engagement With the. overhanging. margin 0f thecap opening; whereby upon operation of the. shank H) Ito 'alihe the cap opening Hi with the body opening 3, the

articles,

"As' shown, the dispenser is particularly designed e angin uehq qwiquaer ea n ss pins Zi lwillbe projected between the twoleading 4 which comprise finger tip shields, and the shields are dispensed by inserting the users finger through the end opening of the dispenser so as to cause the first shield to engage on the end of the finger sufliciently that when the finger is withdrawn from the dispenser the first shield will be carried with it. In this operation, the finger is inserted with the finger nail uppermost or on the 'side of the di spen-ser algng which the shank Iii is disposed, and since it is intended that the finger nail should overhang the rounded end of the shield when the shield is applied to the finger, the dispenser. is so. constructed to provide clearance for tllefinger nail. This is done by providing dome-like portion 28 on the upper side of thez dispenser body I at the delivery end, which dome-like portion extends rearwardly a sufficient distance'to"cl'ear the finger nail when the finger is in engaging position with the leading shield.

The forward end of the shank or side portion Ill is likewise provided with. a complementary acme-ur p'ortionfZ'l. toperrnit lateral operation of thecapinember, and in the:formfshown'theinr terlock pins 25; are secured to the shank inv the dome portion '21 and project through the apertures 25which areformed in the dome portion 26 of the dispenser body. i It is desirable that, the transverse or sidewise spacing ofthe pinsfi hs'hguld beas wide as fp os sible in ordentopermit. the tip of the finger nail to pass betweenthe pins whenv thefi'nger is inserted into the dispenser for'rfemoval of the leading fingertip shield. positionof the f nger nail when the fingeris inserted, inthe. dispenser is indicated by the dotted outline "26 in Fig. 4

Also, as shown in Rigs. Band 4. means are provided to prevent ejection of the follower block 2.6 at the time that the last shield. or article'is dispensed, such means consisting. of two pair 'of.

sockets or recesses 2 9. andf3ll formed in the upper side of the follower block'near. therearward end of the blockfwherin theinterlock pins 2 may,

engage during the dispensing of the last shield or article in thedispenser andduring. any operationZdfithe capinember. 5; after the last; article has been removed.

The sockets or. holes 29. are positionedt-oyree ceive the interlock pins 2d at the time thelast ar e sin me e ir mh di enser: a the sockets 30" are located rearwardly of t sockets 2S, in apositionto receive the interlock pins 2 3 after the last afticle .-b een.removed f Inthe operation of thep cul r embodiment of my invention herein shpwnan escrib d; the

d-sl ve end o the. dev e. sfi f rip ned-ti p a in}; theshaink'l'll against 'the dispeneerbpd so'as.

10 causes the retaining or interlock pins 24 to be retracted and the column of articles then shifts forwardly,-under the action of the spring 2l,1until the next article or shield abuts the margin [5 of the cap opening. This operation may be repeated until all of the articles have been dispensed.

Refilling of the dispenser is accomplished by removing the cap member 5 from the dispenser body. The shank portion l is retained on the dispenser body by means of the rear end hook l2 and may be released by merely springing the hook portion l2 outwardly, away fromthe lug It on which it engages. Then the shank can be lifted away from the dispenser body and shifted forwardly to disengage the cap end. The dispenser then can be readily refilled bymerely pushing a new series or stack of articles into the open end 3, thereby forcing the follower block 20 to the rearward end of the body. After the articles have been inserted into the dispenser, the cap 5 is engaged over the end of the dispenserbody to retain the articles, and the rearward end of the shank is pressed toward the dispenser body so as to cause engagement of the hook portion I! with the lug l3, the shank I0 being retained in hooked position by the inherent resiliency of the end portion H on which the hook I2 is carried.

As shown, the dispenser body may be provided with a finger grip 3! on each side to facilitate holding the body during the operation of releasing the shank portion Ill from the dispenser.

The main advantages of this invention reside in the simple construction for dispensing nested or serially arranged articles, one at a time, while maintaining a substantially constant feeding pressure on the column of articles to urge the column toward the delivery opening. Other advantages are to be found in the compact arrangement of the dispenser whereby it can be of a small size and yet contain a substantial quantity of articles. Further advantages are found in the ease of operation of the device and, as a dispenser for finger tip shields, in the arrangement whereby the shield is applied directly onto the users finger without danger of contamination by handling. And still further advantages reside in the fact that as a finger tip shield dispenser the device may be made of cheap light weight materials and easily carried in a handbag or purse.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention is herein shown and described, it will be understood that details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A dispenser comprising a tubular container having an opening at one end and adapted to hold a plurality of serially arranged articles, means normally urging said articles toward said end opening, a cap member disposed across said end opening and having a dispensing opening located eccentrically relative to said end opening, said cap member being shiftable laterally to aline said dispensing opening and the end opening of said container, a side portion on said cap member extending rearwardly along the outer wall of said container, means disposed between said side portion and said container normally urging said cap member laterally with respect to the open end of said container, and a pin extending laterally inward from said side portion and arranged to project into said container at a predetermined distance from the open end thereof upon shifting said cap member to aline said openings, said container having an opening in its sidewall positioned to receive said-pin.

2. A dispenser comprising a tubular container having an opening at one end and adapted to hold a plurality ofv serially arranged articles, means normally urging said articles toward said end opening, a cap member disposed across said end opening and having a dispensing opening located eccentrically relative to said end opening, said cap member being shiftable laterally to aline said dispensing opening and the end opening of said container, a side Portion on said cap member extending rearwardly along the outer wall of said container, means disposed between said side portion and said container normally urging said cap member laterally with respect to the open end of said container, and a pair of transversely spaced pins extending laterally inward from said side portion and arranged to project into said container at a predetermined distance from the open endthereof upon shifting said cap member to aline said openings, said container having opening-s in its sidewall positioned to receive said pins.

'3. A dispenser comprising a tubular container having an end opening and adapted to hold a plurality of serially arranged articles, a follower in said container, means normally urging said follower toward said end opening, a gate member disposed across said end opening and having a dispensing opening located eccentrically relative to said end opening, said gate member being shiftable laterally to aline said openings, means actuated by said gate member arranged to project laterally into said container upon shifting said gate member to aline said openings, and socket means in said follower positioned to receive the last named means when said follower is engaged with said gate member. 3

4. A dispenser comprising a tubular container having an end opening and arranged to hold a plurality of serially arranged articles, a follower in said container adapted to urge said articles toward said end opening, a cap member disposed over said end opening and having a dispensing opening located eccentrically relative to said end opening, said cap member being shiftable to aline said openings, interlock means extending laterally inward firom said cap member and arranged to project into said container upon alinement of said openings, said interlock means being positioned to engage the second one of the articles in said container and said container having an opening in its sidewall to receive said interlock means, and socket means in said follower positioned to receive said interlock means when said follower is engaged with said cap member.

5. A dispenser comprising a. tubular container having an end opening and arranged to hold a plurality of serially arranged articles, a follower in said container adapted to urge said articles toward said end opening, a cap member disposed over said end opening and having a dispensing opening located eccentrically relative to said end opening, said cap member being shiftable to aline said openings, an interlock element disposed on one side of said container and positioned to be projected laterally into said container and engage the second of the articles therein, said interlock element being arranged for actuation by said cap member upon shifting of the same to aline said openings, and said container having an opening in its sidewall to receive said interlock element, and an opening in said follower positioned to receive said interlock element when said follower is engaged with said cap member.

greases 6 ,A dispenser comprising a tubularcontainer having an end opening and arran ed to'hold, a plurality of serially arranged articles, a follower in said container adapted to urge said articles toward said end opening, a cap member disposed over said end opening and having a dispensing opening located eccentrically relative to said end opening, said cap member being shiftable to aline said openings and having a rearwardly extending portion, a pair offltransversely spaced pins extending laterally inward from the rearwardly extending portion of said cap member, said container side wall being open to receive said pins and said pins being positioned to projectbetween the first and second of the articles in said container upon shifting said cap member to aline said open:- ings, and socket means in said follower positioned to receive said pins when said follower is engaged with said cap member.

7, In a dispenser comprising a tubular container having, an end opening and arrangedto hold a plurality of articles to be dispensed through said opening, a gate membercomprising a cap having a rearwardly extending peripheral margin disposed over and enclosingthe open end of said container and having a dispensing opening eccentrically located relative to said end opening, said cap being arranged for lateral shifting movement across the end of saidcontainer to aline said openings, a shank portion on said cap extending from the margin thereof along one side of said container toward the rear end thereof, means pivotally connecting the rear end of said shank to said ccintainerjand means normally urging said shank portion laterally away from the side of said container.

8. In a dispenser comprising a tubular container having an end opening and arranged to holdaplnrality of articles to be dispensedthrough said'ppening', a gate member comprising a cap disposed over the open, end ofsa'id container and havinga dispensing opening eccentricallylocated relative to saidndopeningsaid capbeing ar ranged for shifting movement across thkndbi saidcontfainerto aline said openings, a shank PQIfii I'On saidcap. extending along the sidev of said container to. the rear end, thereof and having its rear end overhanging the rear end of said container, a hook member on saidrear end engaged with a projection on the rear end of said container, and spring means disposed. between said shank portion and said container normally urging said shank portionlaterally away from said container.

9. A dispenser for nested articles comprising a tubular container arranged to hold a column of the articles and having an end opening, a cap member disposed eccentrically over the end opening of said container and having a dispensing opening located eccentrically relative to said end opening, saidcap member being arranged for lateral shifting movement to aline said openings, 2. side portion on said cap member extendingrearwardly from-the laterally spaced side thereof, re;- leasable means pivotally connecting the rear end of said' side portion to said container, means normally urging the cap end of said side portion laterally away from said container, and retaining means extending laterally inward from said side portion and arranged to project into said container upon shifting said cap member to aline said openings, said retaining means loeing positioned and adapted to engage between adjacent margins of the leading pair of nested articles, and said container having a side wall opening to receive said retaining means.

' WILLIAM R. JUSTUS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of'record in the Germany 1913 

